THE FRUIT GARDEN. 179 



if he choose, be the proprietor of a garden of some ex- 

 tent, and possess sufficient means to stock it with the 

 finest fruits of the land. 



The present actual state of the population gives aLun- 

 dant evidence of this hapj)y and prosperous condition. 

 Let us look at our cities and villages. In Rochester, 

 excepting a narrow circle in its very centre, every house 

 has its garden, varying in extent from twenty-five by one 

 hundred feet to an acre of ground ; and not one of these 

 but is nearly filled with fruit trees ; and so it is, but on a 

 laro^er scale, in all the villas^es of western New York — a 

 section of country in which the first white man's settle- 

 ment can scarcely date back over fifty years. Aside 

 from the beneficial results to individual and public health 

 and prosperity from this general union of the fruit garden 

 and the dwelling, it cannot fail to exercise a softening 

 and refining influence on the tastes, habits, and manners 

 of the people, and greatly strengthen their love of home 

 and country. 



The great thing wanting at this moment, is a knowledge 

 of the correct method of planting and managing fruit 

 gardens. We cannot pass along the streets a rod, where 

 there is a garden, without seeing and feeling that three 

 fourths of the profit and pleasure which gardens might 

 afibrd, are sacrificed to bad management, arising, in the 

 main, from ignorance of the proper modes of culture 

 adapted to such limited grounds ; and it is hoped that the 

 suggestions and plans offered in the following detail of 

 fruit garden management, may afibrd at least a portion 

 of the information wanted. 



The f jrmation of a fruit garden requires a consideration 

 of the soil^ situation^ enclosures^ laying out^ selection of 

 trees^ selection of varieties^ snid ^^lanting. 



1st. The Situation.- — ^This is generally governed by the 

 particular circumstances of the proprietor, those only 



